I grew up right near a military base and actually attended high school on the base. My dad worked there for years and that's where I met my (now retired from the Air Force) husband. The military is a way of life in my family and we're always trying to find ways to support those serving. Right now, my niece's husband is deployed in Kandahar until November so Melanie and I have been trying to create and send care packages to him every couple of months. We like to decorate the inside of the box and then fill it with toiletry items, fun snacks, and toys or magazines. Recently, we sent off a really cool box that I decorated using my trusty Cricut Explore Air. It was so easy and I made the entire thing in under 20 minutes. Here's a simple tutorial on how to create a deployed soldier care package DIY using your Cricut!
This project was SO easy to do and only used a few materials. Check out how I did it:
Supply List:
- Cricut Explore Air
- Use this project
- Cardstock
- Glue Dots
- Double Sided Tape
- Flat Rate USPS Shipping Box
- Cricut StrongGrip Cutting Mat
- Cricut Deep Cut Blade
- Cricut Weeding Tool
Instructions:
Step One: Use a pair of scissors to trim the cardstock to fit the inside of your box. Adhere it with double sided tape.
Step Two: Use your computer to open this project up in Cricut Design Space. I love how easy it to use the Cricut software to create Make It Now projects! I just select the project from the gallery, click the green “Make” button, and Cricut walks me through cutting out even the most intricate design in easy to follow steps.
Step Three: Follow the directions on the screen and select which cuts you want to do (I picked a 4 different cuts of varying sized stars).
Step Four: Adhere your first piece of cardstock on to the Cricut StrongGrip Cutting Mat.
Step Five: Select “Cardstock” on your dial. Load the Cricut Mat into the Cricut Explore Air and then press Go.
Step Six: Watch the Cricut Explore Air cut out your first design – it's SO AWESOME!
Step Seven: Once the cutting is complete, remove the felt from the Cricut Mat. Then use the Cricut Weeding Tool to peel the negative space pieces off your cut cardstock.
Step Eight: Now, you'll repeat steps four through seven for each selected design and with a new piece of cardstock each time.
Step Nine: Use the double sided tape and Glue Dots to adhere the cut designs on the inside of the box. Layer them or use individually – it's your choice!
Step Ten: Fill the decorated box with toiletry, fun, and snacky items for your deployed soldier.
Step Eleven: Get it in the mail so they can enjoy it!
I just love my Cricut Explore Air machine and all the amazing things I can do with it! The first time I used it, I was so worried about storage for it and the supplies but have since changed my tune. Since I have limited space in my home I love that I'm able to access digital download versions of every design in my Cricut Access Membership Plan! Plus, meet the newest member of the Cricut storage family – a mint colored pen/tool pouch! I LURVE IT. It holds my tools and few pens ANDPLUSALSO it stands up on it's own! What will you make with yours? Be sure to share your Easter Cricut projects on social media tagging @OfficialCricut and #Cricut.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.
